Kirky's Men Denied at Garstang

After some shaky starts, the 2s having played 3 lost 3 with some gritty comebacks,but falling just short. After a last minute team change in the league it was a little trip to Garstang to play their newly formed 3rd team.
The 2s confidence having grown week on week having won the toss opting to keep the sun and breeze at our backs & with travelling support in fine voice it began.
From the kick off Phil (Forrest) Winstanley caught the ball while running - the rest of the pack watching in amazement as he beat the first tackler, the game physical at the breakdowns, caused the ball to be knocked loose. Not for the first time, so first of many scrums. The 2s pack grizzled from many a campaign; With the Adam’s - Penney and Wood and Tom Carlton Whittaker ( a rare away game appearance for the young bull ) the skipper teaching the dark arts to Forrest in the second row and back row of the highly mobile returning Lewis Riley at 8 and Nick Good plus the always angry Matt Mitchell ready to cause a nuisance all over the park. They low locked and primed - the Garstang scrum disappeared under the pressure, for the first of many. Adam P not only struck the ball, but winning against the head as the 2s power steamrolled the opposition.
Back line saw the ever dependable Reverend Cheeseman at nine with time on the ball the passes to Probert at 10 marshalling the back line like a military general. An unlikely center pairing of Richard Thornber and Mr Versatile himself Jaime 'utility' Taylor outside him added plenty of scope to crash it in. Leaving the back 3 of Austin Wensley , Henry Thornber adding the pace and Jasper Smith at full back.
Ball was being won all over the park with tackles made, but it was Garstang who struck first with a big crash ball the long haired prop bouncing over just right of the posts extras added.
From the restart a loose ball Garstang gathered, but the nuisance that is angry Mitchell was there - ball ripped, he stepped his man an a brisk twenty meter dash to score Clitheroe's and his, first ever no extras.
Garstang's response was quick and from a couple handling errors saw them score two quick tries with extras. This would cause most teams heads to drop but not today not this team. The resolve stiffened,the pace slowed , the ball quicker & the backs getting clean ball Thornber jnr and Smith stretching Garstang touch line to touch line. Big carries from Wood, Riley, Whittaker, Forrest and the skipper was tiring the Garstang pack, with the center pairing working more like utility forwards left Good and Mitchell free to roam the park. This time from a clean 9/10 link it was fed to Good, who not only won 9 of the 10 lineouts, but darted through holding up strong to smash the line with the Garstang centre along for the ride; extras added.
At the half few changes saw Rory Campbell on at 9 and Connor Fletcher on for Wensley, it was also time for Forrest to have five as having got over his sniffle, on came Sam Barr ready to make his presence felt.
But it was Garstang first to strike as the new lads settled no extras added . But also saw Riley make a departure for ten back on came Winstanley rested & keen slotting alongside Barr in second row & Skipper to 8. Ball won at the restart with a lucky bounce, Taylor with the pass, Winstanley moving - hands up ball in the sweet spot. Wait ...no knock on!! The travelling support screaming "run Forrest ,run" and like a kid at Christmas he crashed over the line just inside the left upright; extras added.
More changes saw Penny replaced by Pund and Jasper off from full back saw Cheesman back into the fray. A couple of phases on and Campbell to Probert ,went left, stepped inside & little flick to the outside to Thornber jnr who only had the touchline to beat from half way. He made it look easy, as his biggest fan boy squealed loudly watching his son dot down under the sticks; again extras added.
Garstang responded with one more of there own, no extras. Before final changes saw big Geoff Williamson on for the skipper and Adam P back on for Pund. The big forwards now running the lines & the backs getting clean ball, saw Campbell and Fletcher linking little switch flick out wide and Henry again pinned his ears [!] to grab his second; again extras added.
35-31 to the home team. In the last min the twos making ground every ball, Garstang tired and going backwards. Two meters out - knock on, scrum Clitheroe ball. The pack primed. This is it. Last play. The mighty 2s pack sinks in unison focused determined they can smell the whitewash, this is it.
Scrum collapses as the ref calls for time, no reset, no time. Only wondering what could of been. 35-31 final score in a game that was one for the spectators.
Great performances across the park. Man of the Match could of been one of four; but for me Phil Forrest Winstanley having the game of his life fully deserves the accolade. But Matt Mitchell, Henry Thornber and Jasper Smith could all of equally claimed the honour.

Report by KK